Grand Theft Auto IV

@wickland : I am agree with you !! GTA is the greatest.

Limzz are you serious? you can go to any restaurant you want if youre not on a date. people that like your character will become your friend. play the game longer my friend im sure you will fall in love with it like i have.

i sort of agree with the review at the beginnng they should have done more too draw the gamer in but still i love this game. Nicko Bellic is a great character if you pay attention you will realize how money is changing him he never wanted to kill and then he gets money and money and he kills and kills (run on sentence i know)

overall i give this game a ten

GTA 4 was definitely one of the greatest.

GTA 4 and SA are my favorite. my rateing for both 8.5

Never really sure what people see in these games other than games that are totally fun if and when you activate each and every cheat available. Other than that: The cars still drive for shit! There is ZERO logic to the missions! For God's sake DO NOT put out a 5!

I'd say 7/10. If it was the first of a new series perhaps higher, but San Andreas blows GTA 4 out of the water. To make a list: boring weapons, tedious missions, no bicycles, no planes, bland environments (I realize it's accurate, but New York is a pretty boring looking place). Opposed to a great story like in SA, this game is a mass of small stories that you don't care about, each with new characters which disappear after you finish their missions and have no real affect on anything. Each radio station has about 3 songs, and there are huge issues with audio balance. Food is impossible to find (restaurants you cannot eat at unless you're on a date?...), you get hit by a car about half the time you cross the street, hand-to- hand combat is pointless, there's about 1 dirt bike in the entire city and it handles like a lawn mower, skate parks with no bikes of boards, mini golf you cannot play, a roller coaster you cannot ride (if you read the manual it's obvious they intended you to but the deadline came too soon), as previously stated the missions are incredibly boring and repetitive (shoot him; drive here; run from the cops; shoot him; shoot the car; or some combination), the option to do things with your friends all of which are boring as hell and if you say no they don't like you anymore (but who the hell cares?), and the story is awful and you forget about it during 95% of the game.

Honestly, I think this is not a 10/10. 9.5 justifies it. Alot of people say: well halo3 got a 10 why didnt this? Well halo3 is hugely over-rated in my opinion and shouldve gotten a lower score. Too many dumb missions compared to the good ones, and a few checkpoints in certain missions couldnt hurt in this game. 9.5 is still a great score, but there are too many pot-holes to be a 10.

I loved GTA SA but GTA 4 isn't my style of game I like Saints row A LOT more! i like fun over realism;)

I think this game deserves a 10 because they put filler missions inside, so the game is extra long

My favourite game, and it never gets boring.

Deserves a 10 in my opinion. Amazing game well worth every penny. Great story, great multiplayer, great game-play, and shooting random innocents, what else could you want!

As soon as GTA came out I was amazed at how they improved the GTA series. I didnt play GTA-San Andreas but ive played all of the others and GTA4 has come a long way from Liberty City Stories.I would easily give this game a 10, i dont know how many hours ive put in to just riding around on a motorcycle and slaughtering people on the sidewalk with it.GTA 4 still needs improving though dont get me wrong. the thing i hated the most is u can only go in certain biuldings and not all of them.In this grand theft auto they pushed limits, but there is so much more they can put in the next one, as for being a cop in GTA 5 it has its ups and downs. Being a cop in a GTA series game is almost like calling it Driver 3.I for one like the idea of being a cop though. i dont know how many times ive sat in a tower in the Correctional Facility on GTA 4 and killed so many cops i lost count after 400. But the fact that you can be one of the cops, arrest people, plant evidence on bodies, plant weopons, get in gang shootouts, all of that sounds fun but then why put cops in the game? The cops are there to chase criminals, so why would there be cops if they are all criminals?

Really, I think it was a success. It may not be 10 material, but what they were going for was to improve graphics, realism, and controls. San Andreas was great, you may have had more to do, because that was what they were aiming for. My best bet, the next game will be in Vice City, so they can improve until then. So i'd give it a 9.5

I love this game,and on Xbox Live.I love it when people curse you out when you run them over.(.v.)

GamerTag: Devilsown973

This game is the best. Ive been playing it ever since it came out. It is the reason why I bought an XBox. Granted, its no san andreas but this game holds its own because its the first one on the 360 but please believe they are gonna revisit san andreas and they are gonna bring it to the 360. After that I can die. lol

WEll its not as great a SA because you can't do drive-bys with your gang members, you can't fly planes and the area is just not as fun as rollin in the desert, or crusin the streets of LS or cambaling at the casinos. Just some great things SA had to offer i believe.

I kinda agree with you geek, I feel wrong saying(typing) this but it just doesn't have that same great feelig as SA for some reson. Its fun but it feels different in a way. WTF!? I give it a 9.9 and it has a few too many filler missions. WHY dont they MAKE SAN ANDREAS FOR the 360? I would be great! LOL

i'ved played it for a while and it's not as fun as sanandreass a13 not being amosed by radom act's of viloce wtf rock staer nort

10... By far the best game this goat has ever witnessed. I don't agree with OXM's review on this one. But I still love the magazine and will support OXM to review how they see fit. Unfortunately there is no real scientific way to review a video game... And 9.5 is not a bad score by any means. But other games which can't even be considered to be even close to the calibur of this title seemed to get a 10 handed to them fairly easily. But this goat is going to get back to playing GTA 4 now.

10

Sorry sambo but if your parents dont feel you are mature enough to indulge in the world of GTA4 then they are probaly right. This installment is much more realistic due mostly to the new physics system death in GTA:SA made you laugh now playing carmaggdon makes me cringe. Gone are they cartoonish graphics. This game is 4 ADULTS and at 23 Im not sure I should be playing this "video game" but Im addicted it's not a game, it's a trap!

I have never been a good fan of GTA games, but this one looks worthy enough to be in my collection of games. Even though I'm 16, my parents wouldn't ever let me get a GTA (and I know why), but really though, this GTA is very different than the others. Less gangster-shoot-em-up, more crime-mobster, and I like a game with a story to it and not just violence as the story. I told my parents about this game and they won't let me get it! Everybody I know has this game and I feel left out! Either way, I'm still getting it one way or another! And about the 9.5 out of 10, I agree that it's a very real review, but the 10's that were handed out shouldn't have been 10's (except CoD4). If you contradict Bioshock's ending, GoW's concepts, and Halo 3's lackluster features while still giving out 10's, then a mild filler shouldn't have gotten GTAIV a 9.5!

halo3, bioshock, and mass effect are considered great games and i agree mostly( running around looking 4 the next mission is not my idea of fun) but they do share one thing 4 sure PUBLISHING!!!! Microsoft XBOX Magazine i trusted you. you have betrayed us all! ps vehicle combat made mass effect unplayable worse TEN EVER! THANK YOU!

a 9.5 HOW ABOUT A 9.0? Niko's expresses the whole game that he'll do anything as long as it pays good, right. So, what happens when u start getting a CRAP load of money? Nothing. U cant buy anything but weapons, food & get ur rocks off with a hooker. a lot of things it seems are missing. But thats my only gripe, this game is awesome! To cancel ur OXM subscription because of a 9.5 score is stupid. All ur doing is punishing ur self by taking away the best Gamer Magazine available. Good job OXM on the review.

There is no way this game shouldn't have gotten a 10. If you know how to use the right thumbstick there aren't camera issues. This is by FAR the best game of the series they some how keep refining it and making it better and better if you gave any of the other gta's a 10 theres no way this shouldn't get the same.... And especially with some of the underserving games that get 10's these days...

I am only in the first few hours of the game and the beginning IS slow. The camera DOES have it's issues. Also, I have trouble hearing the dialog over music and other sounds no matter how I adjust the settings. This game is still a masterpiece and the review is dead on. Being cross-platform, I'm sure it will be Game of the Year on almost every list.

I've read all the issues with GTA 4 in them, and I have to say, OXM got me pumped and ready for the release, especially when the mentioned, "FREE MODE". You all do a great job with every preview/review, that's why I've been buying Mags for 3 years now.

That's right, NO GAME IS PERFECT, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, take, for example, Halo 3's SHORT storyline.
That is why no game will make the 11.0 UNICORN rating!!!

Jesus get over yourself people. Pissing and moaning about what ends up being a difference of .5 in the final score. Its still AAA all the way. They gave thier reasons why they didnt give it a 10 and that is all they need to do. I for one am thankful that their are still magazines willing to think for themselves and not just pressured to post a score to make the fans and developer happy.

As for people claimimng they are going to stop retting this great magazine simply because they endd up giving a game .5 less than you though it should get, LOL. Good GTF out of here as this website and magazine does not need candy as* people like that. This is by far one of the best, if not the best, videogame publication on the market today and if your too much of a baby to accept other people's opinion then your dont deserve to be apart of this community. Again get lost and good riddance.

As for me I couldnt agree more with this review. This is a fantastic game but there are too many small problems for me to personally give it a 10. I would have given it a 9 or 9.5 tops. The problems with the camera alone is worth a .5 deduction IMO.

Anyways great review OXM!! I am sure you guys are alredy well aware of the fact that you cant make everyone happy especially the incredibly immature people who are threatening cancelation of your magazine over a game rating, lol. Keep up the great work and remember most of us love the work your doing. Keep it up!

I'm so not going to subscribe to this magazine anymore!It's been great knowing you OXM but its time to go. I'll still go the website though.

I agree with you ATLien4evr, this game should have gotten a 10!

The camera on this game is garbage and a HUGE step back from the camera in SA and VC. That alone keeps the game from getting a 10 in my book.

Its also true that, as Americans, we are never completely satisfied with the things we have or are given.

The very reasons they gave GTA4 a 9.5 are BS. Mainly they are that Nico is "emotionally all over the place" and "wishy-washy" and that GTA4 has "a few 'filler'-feeling story missions". Firstly most games don't even HAVE characters this good. Secondly SO WHAT IF THERE ARE A FEW "FILLER" MISSIONS?! I guess the editors felt the urge to use GTA4's few, small "problems" as their reasoning for giving it a 9.5 instead of the 10 it rightfully deserves. This game is easily going to be the best game of 2008.

I dont know if anyone else has this problem but i cant lock on to targets with my weapons only my fists can anyone tell me what to do ive tried everything and its kind of annoying

I think this game is much better then a 9.5 and better then some 10-rated games (halo 3) and it was a huge inovation and by far the best in the series. I respect your opinion but im not the only one thinking of a 10 so please reconsider.

I got the printed version of this review in the June mag. It came in my mail yesterday!

I agree with you all the way Revan Halo, this game should've got a 10 but OXM got their reasons for giving the game a 9.5 and the explain it all in the review. But Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Cod4, and Fight Night got 10's and I just can't see why GTA IV can't join the club.

I think the only reason you have given this outstanding work of gaming art a 9.5 rating is because you guys got so much crap for handing out four 10's last year. This has to be a joke, and I hope when the print version comes out, you either address reader's dissatisfaction with the review, or in the next issue if it is too late now. I understand that you want to look like great critics, but you have really screwed the pooch on this one. I have been a subscriber for 2 years now and I cannot argue this point to anyone who would ask me why OXM is one of the only publications (electronic or print) that did not give GTA IV a 10/10 or 5/5. I understand trying to be objective and respectable journalists, but you guys should have had an extra meeting about this! Seriously, with all of the faults of the other games you have rated 10.0 (that other posters have already made light of), I cannot believe that a slow beginning compared with the excellent story and the gameplay that is light years ahead of anything on next-gen systems, could warrant this backhand to Rockstar North. This makes you look less credible than before and has made me doubt your intentions. I own 43 Xbox 360 games that were all purchased brand-new because I believe in supporting the game industry so we can continue to have great games developed and released, and every 10.0 rated game from OXM is in that collection. I just wish you guys could realize that every other game review out their has gave GTA IV its rightful place at the top, but OXM seems to disagree with the masses. For Shame!!!
Revan Halo

i was estatic that GTA4 was comeing out and i bought it on the first day and got home put it in and the graphix were great but untill it started freezing on me and hasnt stoped any one else having this problem

Goodness!! you guys are being too hard on the OXM. 9.5 is an amazing score. we all have our opinions just like the OXM guys. relax its only a game. great review!!

Wow, I've bought OXM every month since they've started.. And now, because of this bullshit score, I'm most likely not going to continue to purchase OXM anymore.

You guys have gone against everything you've said and have now made fools of yourselves.

GTA IV is one of the most deserving games to be rewarded a 10 and you didn't.

Way to fail hard guys =/

I'm moving onto a magazine I can trust to live up to their standards for scoring.

Oh and beautiful review btw Corey. asides from the score, the writing was phenomenal.

lol i also think its funny how OXM gives it a 9.5 and calls it the "biggest and boldest game of 2008".

but watch when they give gears of war 2 a 10.... just watch.

then we'll see who should be writing the reviews.... THE READERS! in fact i think OXM should do a review from them and a review from us on the next issue after every review. like on half a page just put down user reviews from emails and forums and other ways i cant really think of right now. Come on! it would be GENIUS!

What bothers me about this review is not the score of 9.5, but the context it is in. Gaming sites that rarely give out perfect scores like IGN and Gamespot found GTA IV deserving of a 10. On the other hand, OXM has a history of handing out 10's left and right such as Halo 3, BioShock, Mass Effect, Gears of War, & Call of Duty 4. And don't get me wrong, I like they realize that no game is perfect and that a 10 does not mean that a game is perfect. However, in this case I really think they strayed away from that criteria. OXM cites the reason for this score is a slow beggining and too many filler missions. However, they also commended the game for excellent single player & multiplayer, which is more than can be said for a few of the games OXM awarded 10's to. Compared to the issues with the other games they awarderd 10's to, this is an outragous example of nitpicking. For example; Halo 3's mediocre single player, Mass Effect's tedious & repetitive side quests, Gears of War's second-rate story, and BioShock's lackluster ending. All of these are somewhat significant issues in these games, and they didn't seem to think any of that was enough to take away a perfect score. I have read many reviews of GTA IV, and have not heard the issues they claim to be significant in any of them. I think that using the way OXM grades games, GTA IV was definately deserving of a 10. Again, I'm not shcoked by the score of 9.5, but I was suprised that it came from OXM.

This game without a doubt should be a 10. You OXM guys seem to be contradicting yourselves. if you criticize Bioshock's ending and still give it a 10 why do you criticize GTA's beginning and give it a 9.5? This game could not even have missions and I would still plop down 60 bucks just to tear around Liberty City

I from Atlanta too! ATL Baby ATL!.By the way good review OXM although I thought it should've got 10 like Halo 3, Cod4, Bioshock ect. I think GTA deserves to be in that club. But I guess you got your reasons!

heh, it's the fact that the ole' my house my rules come into play. So if I bought it, I'd probably have to move out, which I don't have the money saved up for yet.

Anyways, back to GTA, I was also expecting a 10, I understand that the beginning might be slow... but can it possibly bring down the rest of the game that much? I mean, even though you don't have the best cars available, I think I could still find plenty to do to keep me entertained.

To me, that seems a little like grading down a zelda title because you don't start off with all of your weapons and gear.

For the most part I agree with what you have to say about the beginning being slow, but you have to think about how big this game really is. Have you read The Do-Over of Xbox article (pg. 96 of the current issue). In my opinion it is necessary for games that are as complex and deep as GTA IV to have a gentle learning curve. If for no other reason than to give you time to get good at the game. This seems logical to me because it is a well known fact that people enjoy doing things that they’re good at. In my own experience many games of this genre will say “Okay, here’s your gun and here’s your car, now go play.” and just leave it at that. So instead of looking at like “Ah man I still can’t go over there were all the big-boy toys are.” Look at it like “Ah man I can’t wait to get over there; but it’s a good thing that the game is making sure that I can pass the drivers test instead of just handing me a license and a pair of keys. Let’s face it my character’s skills just haven’t matured enough to allow him to get out of the sandbox and into the world.”
I hope my rebuttal to what you said about Niko being “to wishy-washy” doesn’t put you to sleep, I’ll be done shortly so just hang in there. You said that “[you] appreciate how human [Niko] is, but it can be irritating, too.” Okay for just a second stand back and look at it like this; you expect the guns to sound like their real world counter parts don’t you? You expect the physics engine to make sure that those explosions hurl bodies along the correct trajectory, right? And you expect the cars to handle like they would in real life, correct? So then wouldn’t it make sense that the characters behave in a realistic manner too? Now I’m not saying that these games need to mirror the reality of our world, if they did that why would we even bother to play them we could just (dare I say it) go outside. So yes I do agree with you about that to a certain point. In my opinion the other reason RockStar made Niko as “human” or as “deep” as they did, was so you didn’t have to be. If you look past this games prostitute killing, fuzz dispatching exterior you’ll see a game that has the potential to make you pause the action set down the controller and ponder your own moral values, just the same way that so many of last years titles did.
My personal score: 10/10

It is the must own game this season, unless your under 17. Then you should grow your mind a bit longer.